Nokia Lumia 830 review

The Nokia Lumia 830 currently has an Informr score of 7.3 out of 10.
This score is based on our evaluation of 28
sources including reviews from users and the web's most trusted critics.

The "1-Minute" Review

What's good

Excellent camera quality

Lag free performance during basic tasks

Bright display with excellent viewing angles

What's bad

Frame rate issues for more intensive apps

Not full HD display

Poor viewing angles in bright light

The Lumia 830 will be the one of last Lumia phones to sport the Nokia label now that Microsoft has taken over the Finnish company. Marketed as an "affordable flagship" the 830 offers many of the same features as on the 930 such as an aluminum frame and colorful, interchangeable plastic back panels. Where it differs though is its size. It is slightly smaller and thinner measuring in at 5.5x2.8x0.3 inches and weighs grams. On paper the difference might be small, but reviewers noticed a significant change when switching from the 930 to the 830. Anand Tech states, "The 930 would slightly dig into my hands…the Lumia 830 does not…In hand feel is very good."

Nokia has opted to keep the same 5-inch screen size, but in their quest for affordability they had to go without a full HD screen and instead opting for 720p. While this offers a slightly lower pixel density of 294ppi, most critics had no issues with pixilation thanks to the ClearBlack IPS technology. They describe the overall panel as "punchy" with excellent viewing angles, deep blacks and good bright light legibility, though CNET did notice a significant drop off in legibility when changing angles.

On paper, the 830 doesn't seem impressive with only a 1.2GHz quad-core processor and 1GB of RAM. With that said experts add that its performance didn't leave much to be desired as apps launched and closed quickly, navigating the UI was fluid and most games played stutter-free. Battery-life as well impressed reviewers, especially since Nokia opted for only a 2,200mAh battery. When put through the battery draining tests, it lasted a little over 10 hours and real-life usage got most experts through a full day of moderate usage. Just in case you do run out of juice, the battery is removable so you can swap out if necessary.

Like the other Lumia phones, the 830's main event is the camera. At 10MP, it might not offer the same sharpness as the 1020's 41MP camera, but it still holds its own against its competitors. Branded as PureView, the 830 comes equipped with Optical Image Stabilization for clearer pictures. When put to the test, experts were able to take high quality pictures with accurate colors and plenty of detail in bright light situations. Unfortunately, they also experienced a significant quality dip once the lights dimmed in the form of noise, loss of detail and muted colors though the images weren't necessarily unusable.

While reviewers generally enjoyed the Lumia 830, they are hesitant to recommend it outright. Trusted Reviews states, "The Lumia 830 is, mostly, a very good phone, but before you buy you need to make peace with some tricky weaknesses." TechRadar adds, "With a cheaper price tag than its flagship brother, the Lumia 830 can be forgiven for taking a few cuts in performance...[but] I really struggle to see how the Lumia 830 will compete."

What the Critics Are Saying...

While a very decent Windows Phone device, the Nokia Lumia 830 has a steep hill to climb against midrange Androids with its current price bordering on 300 USD or EUR. Windows Phone 8.1 is now a better mobile OS, and the Lumia 830 is promised for a Windows 10 update, too. We certainly can't complain a...

- Daniel P., PhoneArena

There's nothing shockingly wrong with the Lumia 830, but it does feel like a slight opportunity lost. It is a mediocre performer, with a not-great camera. But it is well priced, nicely built and stylish. Better value can be found by dropping down to the Lumia 630, but if you want a 5in Windows phone...

- Matt Egan, Tech Advisor

Overall, I enjoyed using this phone even though (like I said) many of the apps I use on a day-to-day basis are basically non-existent in the Windows Store world. but other than that, the Nokia Lumia 830 feels sturdy in build and smooth in software performance. This is perfect for someone who isn&rsq...

- Andrew Romero, iTechTriad

The Nokia Lumia 830 is an all-around solid performer. It may be a mid-range handset, but it acts more like a flagship smartphone. It boasts Nokia's classic design and solid build quality in a phone that's compact and a pleasure to use. The Lumia 830 handles the basics with ease. The screen looks gre...

- Eric M. Zeman, Phone Scoop

Featuring Microsoft's enterprise-friendly Windows Phone 8.1 operating system, quad-core processor, decent screen and excellent camera, the Lumia 830 is a great phone.Add to this its moderate £320 price tag and we can definitely see the Lumia 830 appealing to business buyers looking for an affo...

If your Lumia 830 has problems and is still within its warranty period, you could contact Nokia support or the retailer you purchased the phone from. You'll find Nokia's contact information here. If your phone is off warranty and needs repair for a physical problem such as a broken screen or bad battery, you should visit an authorized service centre or a local phone repair shop. You can also connect with others in The Informr Community Forum to find and share answers to questions.

Critic Reviews

Color-accurate display, very good battery life

While a very decent Windows Phone device, the Nokia Lumia 830 has a steep hill to climb against midrange Androids with its current price bordering on 300 USD or EUR. Windows Phone 8.1 is now a better mobile OS, and the Lumia 830 is promised for a Windows 10 update, too. We certainly can't complain about the out-of-the-box software that comes with the handset, but the ecosystem still lacks in terms of app count, so if you are coming from an Android handset, or an iPhone, some applications you know and love might not be there...

While a very decent Windows Phone device, the Nokia Lumia 830 has a steep hill to climb against midrange Androids with its current price bordering on 300 USD or EUR. Windows Phone 8.1 is now a better mobile OS, and the Lumia 830 is promised for a Windows 10 update, too. We certainly can't complain about the out-of-the-box software that comes with the handset, but the ecosystem still lacks in terms of app count, so if you are coming from an Android handset, or an iPhone, some applications you know and love might not be there.

The biggest advantages of the Lumia 830 against said Androids are the excellent sound recording ability that the three high-amplitude mics bring about, and the color-accurate display. Also, not many phones at that price point come with optical image stabilization for smooth and flawless videos. On the minus side, the earpiece call quality is not that good, flash shots are murky, and the chipset might stall at heavy 3D gaming.

At this price point you can find many a formidable Android competitor, like the LG G2 and Huawei's Honor 6 with 1080p displays, faster chipsets, and a lighter build, while a Benjamin more would get you the LG G3 now, for instance. The arrival of Windows 10 might change things for the Lumia 830, but for now, unless you need quality video sound recording on the go, we'd advise to wait for the inevitable price drop.

Offers good battery life, decent build and camera

There's nothing shockingly wrong with the Lumia 830, but it does feel like a slight opportunity lost. It is a mediocre performer, with a not-great camera. But it is well priced, nicely built and stylish. Better value can be found by dropping down to the Lumia 630, but if you want a 5in Windows phone this is a decent option.

There's nothing shockingly wrong with the Lumia 830, but it does feel like a slight opportunity lost. It is a mediocre performer, with a not-great camera. But it is well priced, nicely built and stylish. Better value can be found by dropping down to the Lumia 630, but if you want a 5in Windows phone this is a decent option.

A new definition to budget phone

Overall, I enjoyed using this phone even though (like I said) many of the apps I use on a day-to-day basis are basically non-existent in the Windows Store world. but other than that, the Nokia Lumia 830 feels sturdy in build and smooth in software performance. This is perfect for someone who isn&...More

Overall, I enjoyed using this phone even though (like I said) many of the apps I use on a day-to-day basis are basically non-existent in the Windows Store world. but other than that, the Nokia Lumia 830 feels sturdy in build and smooth in software performance. This is perfect for someone who isn’t into mobile gaming, but more into the photography aspect of things.

Windows Phone done right

The Nokia Lumia 830 is an all-around solid performer. It may be a mid-range handset, but it acts more like a flagship smartphone. It boasts Nokia's classic design and solid build quality in a phone that's compact and a pleasure to use.

The Lumia 830 handles the basics with ease. The screen looks great, signal performance is solid, call quality is excellent, and battery life is right where it needs to be. The Windows Phone operating system performs perfectly on the 830 and never felt bogged down or slow. The features available in Windows Phone 8.1 mean the 830 can go toe-to-toe with most other phones in the market. The 10-megapixel camera does an admirable job and the 830's photo-management tools are powerful and easy to use....

The Nokia Lumia 830 is an all-around solid performer. It may be a mid-range handset, but it acts more like a flagship smartphone. It boasts Nokia's classic design and solid build quality in a phone that's compact and a pleasure to use.

The Lumia 830 handles the basics with ease. The screen looks great, signal performance is solid, call quality is excellent, and battery life is right where it needs to be. The Windows Phone operating system performs perfectly on the 830 and never felt bogged down or slow. The features available in Windows Phone 8.1 mean the 830 can go toe-to-toe with most other phones in the market. The 10-megapixel camera does an admirable job and the 830's photo-management tools are powerful and easy to use.

I can think of only one real weakness, and it is shared by all Windows Phones: App selection. There's no question that Android and iOS have more available apps, though some may argue Windows Phone has the major gaps filled.

AT&T is selling the Lumia 830 for $450 with no contract, $100 with a contract, or about $20 per month on an AT&T Next plan. The Lumia 830 is a bargain no matter which you choose. I'd say it's the best mid-sized Windows Phone currently available from AT&T.

Add to this its moderate £320 price tag and we can definitely see the Lumia 830 appealing to business buyers looking for an affordable option. Although there's still work to be done on locking users into IE and adding more apps to the Windows Phone eco-system.

Offers a sturdy and good looking design with stable and smooth OS

The Lumia 830 is a good Windows Phone, but not the best smartphone as you can get much better options in the market like the Nexus 5, Sony Xperia Z1 Compact, etc. It offers an appealing design, a smooth OS and a great camera, but somehow it doesn't justify the price. If you love WP, then this is...More

The Lumia 830 is a good Windows Phone, but not the best smartphone as you can get much better options in the market like the Nexus 5, Sony Xperia Z1 Compact, etc. It offers an appealing design, a smooth OS and a great camera, but somehow it doesn't justify the price. If you love WP, then this is a good option, but if you want high-end specs to match the heavy price-tag, then you better give this a pass.

A great Windows Phone at a reasonable price

At $100 on a two-year contract with AT&T, or $450 outright, you don’t necessarily have to break the bank to go in on this one. The Lumia 830 is a solid middle-of-the-road Windows Phone.

The camera’s consistent performance is great, but its specs are as low as a $180 Moto G. Watching Netflix or streaming music may be easy enough, but gaming is a mixed bag. If you’re a stickler for screen resolution and pixel density, then the Lumia 830 will disappoint, but I never felt the display hurt my enjoyment.

Nokia’s legacy isn’t fully represented in the Lumia 830, but it’s certainly an affordable way to hand over the branding reins to Microsoft, who will need a lot more devices like it to get prospective Windows Phone users to adopt its unique platform....

At $100 on a two-year contract with AT&T, or $450 outright, you don’t necessarily have to break the bank to go in on this one. The Lumia 830 is a solid middle-of-the-road Windows Phone.

The camera’s consistent performance is great, but its specs are as low as a $180 Moto G. Watching Netflix or streaming music may be easy enough, but gaming is a mixed bag. If you’re a stickler for screen resolution and pixel density, then the Lumia 830 will disappoint, but I never felt the display hurt my enjoyment.

Nokia’s legacy isn’t fully represented in the Lumia 830, but it’s certainly an affordable way to hand over the branding reins to Microsoft, who will need a lot more devices like it to get prospective Windows Phone users to adopt its unique platform.

The perfect mid-range Windows phone handset

Nokia Lumia 830 might look a bit more expensive than other smartphones with similar specs, but the addition of the 10-megapixel PureView camera and 5-inch ClearBlack display completely justifies its price.

The fact that the smartphone almost doesn’t have any downsides should make it popular among smartphone users. Alas, things aren’t that simple and given Windows Phone market share is so low, the devices powered by this operating system have a harder time getting into customers' hands unless they have a really good price...

Nokia Lumia 830 might look a bit more expensive than other smartphones with similar specs, but the addition of the 10-megapixel PureView camera and 5-inch ClearBlack display completely justifies its price.

The fact that the smartphone almost doesn’t have any downsides should make it popular among smartphone users. Alas, things aren’t that simple and given Windows Phone market share is so low, the devices powered by this operating system have a harder time getting into customers' hands unless they have a really good price.

I have enjoyed using the Nokia Lumia 830 very much and strongly recommend the smartphone to those who are willing to switch to Windows Phone but don’t want to spend more to get the Lumia 930 or Lumia 1520.

Solid user experience, but not the best specs

The Lumia 830 may be the end of the road for Nokia, but it doesn’t necessarily mean the phone suffers from the passing of the torch to Microsoft. It’s just important to recognize that this is more in the affordable camp than the flagship camp. The reasoning behind the association has...More

The Lumia 830 may be the end of the road for Nokia, but it doesn’t necessarily mean the phone suffers from the passing of the torch to Microsoft. It’s just important to recognize that this is more in the affordable camp than the flagship camp. The reasoning behind the association has more to do with the fact the phone feels like it’s at the higher end of the mid-range. It’s unquestionably a solid handset and one of the best entry points for a user looking to go with Windows Phone. The number of apps available has improved, but many are still missing and others that are here may not be as developed as those on other platforms. If you’re invested in Microsoft’s apps, this will be less of an issue, but if you’re keyed in on Google’s services, then you may feel a little lost.

Shining bright

The Nokia Lumia 830 is the affordable flagship Microsoft is pitching it as. It's got top-notch specs in every key aspect of the phone and comes with a competitive mid-range price. We get a solid build with metal frame plus a curved protective screen glass and a matte finish on the back. There is...More

The Nokia Lumia 830 is the affordable flagship Microsoft is pitching it as. It's got top-notch specs in every key aspect of the phone and comes with a competitive mid-range price. We get a solid build with metal frame plus a curved protective screen glass and a matte finish on the back. There is the 5" IPS display of excellent quality, enhanced with ClearBlack tech as well. The Snapdragon 400 chipset runs buttery smooth on that 720p resolution, too. And, of course, let's not forget the 10MP PureView camera with ZEISS optics and optical image stabilization.

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